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Melissa Coates, IFBB Pro

Melissa Coates was born and raised in Thunder Bay Ontario. She started bodybuilding at the age of 15 years old to become a pro tennis player! She had some success as a junior, winning the Mid Canada Junior Girls title in 1985, and being the finalist the year before. She also got into powerlifting (had a bench press 250 lbs at 130 lbs). In the early 1990s, she won the lightweight category and the overall of the Physique Challenge contest in Windsor Ontario. She then moved to Los Angeles and three months later won her pro debut - the 1996 Jan Tana! This was a big win for Melissa Coates and she did so at 105 lbs at 5 5'. She competed for a number of years on the pro scene and landed on the cover of virtually every bodybuilding and fitness magazine on the market. She eventually retired from competitive bodybuilding to pursue a career in wrestling. She now reside in Atlanta.